As Max Verstappen took pole position for the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix with the fastest lap of all time, it was another tricky afternoon for Red Bull team-mate Yuki Tsunoda.
Whilst there was, on paper, a semblance of improvement given there was a Q3 appearance with 10th place, the Japanese driver was seven tenths off Verstappen at the end.
One of Tsunoda’s handicaps this season has been being behind Verstappen in terms of upgrades for his RB21, with the Dutchman getting first dibs on the new parts.
The only occasion in which both men had identical cars was in Hungary, which was, all told, a horror show for the team, with Verstappen scarcely able to finish on the same lap.
For Monza, Red Bull has brought upgrades to its floor, and Tsunoda revealed that it is Verstappen who is the only one to have it on the car.
“To be honest, we have different floors this weekend,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“The car is probably not fast, but still, we’re trying to make progress with upgrades as much as possible. It’s a… situation like I had before Spa. I can easily accept it.”
Tsunoda explained the difference in upgrades were not that different, saying it compromises “a couple of details,” adding, “but you know, details always make the difference in this kind of tight pack.
“But for me, being in Q3 was the target anyway, so it was good.”
Tsunoda ‘happy’ with qualifying performance despite huge Verstappen deficit
Tsunoda was closer to Verstappen in Q1 and Q2, a common theme during the season, before falling off a lot further at the business end of qualifying.
But he put this down partly to being the driver who had to lead the queue, the most undesirable position for a driver to be in during qualifying, saying he was “happy” with his performance.
“Also, I had to lead the pack in Q3… Leading the pack here traditionally is bad, which I clearly felt in the last push [lap], even though the lap was pretty good.
“Easily three tenths, four tenths [of a second], is there, but it is what it is.
“Still, I’m overall happy with the performance, and being in Q3 was the most important thing, so I’m happy with it.”
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